Police fire pepper balls to end hourlong standoff with woman in Walmart parking lot
Bellingham Police had to fire pepper balls into an RV to coax out a woman and end an hourlong standoff in the Walmart parking lot after twice receiving reports that she allegedly violated a no-contact order last weekend.
Jan Marie Ethier, 45, was booked into Whatcom County Jail on Saturday, Nov. 30, on suspicion of violation of a protective order, assault and obstruction as well as other failure-to-appear warrants, and jail records show she is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Officers were first called to Walmart at 5:29 a.m. Saturday for a report that Ethier had punched a man who had a restraining order against her in the face, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald. Though the attack caused a bruise, the man did not require medical attention, Murphy said, and Ethier left the scene prior to police arrival.
Approximately 14 hours after the incident, police received another report that Ethier was back in the RV in the parking lot in violation of the no-contact order, Murphy said.
Officers watched the RV from a distance, Murphy said, and spoke to the victim when he exited and he confirmed that Ethier was in the RV.
Officers used hailers, sirens and lights on their patrol units to get Ethier’s attention, inform her that she was under arrest and instruct her to exit the RV, Murphy said, but she ignored those efforts for more than an hour.
After obtaining a search warrant, Murphy said officers told Ethier that they would be forced to use a chemical irritant if she did not exit the RV. Though Ethier yelled to police that she was inside, she reportedly remained in the RV.
Police fired several pepper ball rounds into the RV, Murphy said, and Ethier exited, allowing officers to arrest her.
A criminal history check revealed Ethier had three previous convictions for violating no-contact orders.
Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, you can contact the following local resources for free, confidential support:
▪ Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services: 24-hour Help Line: 360-715-1563, Email: info@dvsas.org.
▪ Lummi Victims of Crime: 360-312-2015.
▪ Bellingham Police: You can call anonymously at 360-778-8611, or go online at cob.org/tips.
▪ WWU Consultation and Sexual Assault Support Survivor Advocacy Services: 360-650-3700 or wp.wwu.edu/sexualviolence/.
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 10:48 AM.
